Food, Dining and the Everyday Life of Richard Stonley

This project seeks to explore everyday food and dining experiences, in order to gain a better understanding of the customs and interpersonal relationships associated with food, hospitality and status in 16th century London and England. Using two of the three surviving volumes of the diary, or account book, of Richard Stonley (held by the Folger Library), this project will analyse his purchases of food and objects associated with dining, plus a series of his food menus. In addition to the diary, an inventory of Stonley's home in Aldersgate Street has survived, providing additional evidence of the contents of Stonley's household's living environment.

Chapter 1 positions the Stonley diaries in relation to current scholarship on everyday life and historical biography. It is followed by two case studies, illustrating how special occasions can reveal much about the role that food and dining played in Stonley's life and in his writing. Chapter 2 analyses a 12 month period in the diary, from May 1593 to May 1594, revealing strong seasonal trends and specific customs such as the gifting of food items. Chapter 3 explores three and a half months of dinner and supper menus listed by Stonley whilst in prison, illustrating the remarkably varied range of ingredients, cooking and serving methods enjoyed by Stonley. Demonstrating the inter-relationships between Stonley's food choices and eating habits, and his family, household and social relationships, this project makes use of an unpublished and largely unused manuscript.